The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-24
FIDELITY ONLY In NAME.
HARPER AND THE ASSISTANT
CASHIER JAILED.

All.
CINCINNATI, June pa special from
Columbus, o., says: The Fidelity National
Bunk, of Cincinnati, was the accredited cor
espondent for majority of the banks, in
columbus, and nearly all of them viii be
osers, though not in any very large
mounts, as the sums extend all the way
rom $50 to $4,000. The bankers here re-
hse to talk about the failure, so
lar as it relates to themselves,
md say they are able to
AXE care of themselves, and express the
belief that Columbus would have scarcely
,een known in that connection, except for
ihe hasty action of Brooks, Butler & Co. in
yetting out an attachment to secure them
elves in their $50, 900 claim. Other bankers
INSIST that the attachment is of no account.
Is the wreck had already passed into the
hands OF the government and was beyond
my civil action.
THE DIRECTORS IN HOT WATER
Mr. Trenholm, Comptroller of the Cur
,ency, has arrived here and has taken
charge Of the Fidelity National Bank Mr..
DeCamp, who has been named as the re-
,eiver will probably decline, as an accept
mt connection with the Metropolitan
National Bank. The interest is
mrning to the question of what
,ssets can be made available for the debts
,f the bank. If the President and directors
san be assessed to the extent of their re-
sources, it will produce about Sl,S00,000 at
rough estimate. There have been no fur
Eher arrests and no new developments 1t
will necessarily require much time and labor
10 make thorough examination.
CONTROLLER TRENHoLM's VIEWS
Hon. W. L. Trenholm, Comptroller of the
Treasury, who arrived this morning, SAYS
hat there is not such an omniscience in the
governments supervision as can always
avert a catastrophe like that of the Fidelity
Bank, and he suggests that it is hardly fair
70 expect one man to know more about
the affairs of the 5000 banks in the country,
than is known sometimes by the officers of
the banks themselves. The examination of
this bank in January, showed everything in
proper condition. Mr.. Trenholm was par
ticular in his statement that the agent had
no power to appoint a receiver, and in this
case there had been no such appointment.
Neither could any act OF liquidation be done
nntl receiver disappointed by the Comp
ROLLER of the Currency, and had given 8
bond. Mr.. Decamp had never been ap-
pointed receiver.
A SENSIBLE IDEA.
He had been recommended, but Mr. Tren-
polm said it was his Judgment in this case
That the receiver should not be a resident of
Cincinnati. He will probably make an ap-
pointment from some portion of the State of
Ohio, however. In regard to the condition
Of the bank Mr.. Trenholm says that he has
not yet examined the paper, nor heard the
report and can say nothing, and he says no
statement of the assets and liabilities can
be made until after the receiver has had
lime to receive and examine the claims
and to ascertain the assets. He added that
the Comptroller of the Currency had no
control over the criminal proceedings That
belongs to the law department of the gov
ernment, to which the bank examiner was
bound to submit such evidence as he found
relating to criminal acts.
Suspicious FIRST AROUSED.
Recurring to his action in this case, Mr..
Trenholm said his suspicious were aroused in
April last when he discovered from the re-
ports in his Office that the Fidelity Bank
had reserve" accounts of eighty country
banks, and that its Indebtedness to the other
banks was very large. This course Of busi-
ness was dangerous in panicky times, as
such banks would then all draw at once.
He said there had never been an authorize
tion of the increase of the capital stock,
though it would have been done if an ap-
pllcation had been made.
SURRENDERED BY THEIR BoNDsMEN.
The most sensational feature of the day
was the surrender late this afternoon of e.
l.. Harper and B. E. Hopkins, by their
Sureties, George B. kerper, w. III. Woods
and Eugene Zimmerman. In order to eff
feet this Harper and Hopkins had to be
brought before the United States Commits
bioner. Harper was found in the bank, but
HNvNlyf yft,gx fnlra fhn sfief xfh
family. Deputy Hazen, who performed this
duty, says it was trying one. This action
vitiated the bonds and released all
the bondsmen. The effort to get new
bondsmen revealed the startling fact that
the man who few days ago was accounted
millionaire had been wholly deserted by
his friends No bondsmen have been found
up to this hour Q0:45 p. m.) and the Com
missioner has agreed TO wait until midnight,
!. when. if help does not come the Vice Presi-
dent and Assistant Cashier will go to Jail.
Aside from the intense feeling against the
wickedness of this transaction which is
growing as the instances of personal loss
and suffering come to light, there
Is another reason for frighten-
ing the bondsmen. Eugene Zimmerman,
who has been regarded as Harper's special
friend, and who was made his assignee, has
resigned that trust and the resignation has
been accepted. Judge Gobel viii take
cOtinsel with the creditors before appointing
his successor. 1t was said that Mr.. Zinl-
norman found the assets to be not more
than $50, 900, where they had been rated at
nearly million.
THE GENIAL "JoE" is ARRESTED.
Another sensational feature of to-day's
doings was the arrest of j. +. Wiltshire, the
broker who took the checks of the Fidelity
Bank 10 Chicago TO try to hold up the mar
ket. He was charged with aiding and abet-
Ting inthe willful and unlawful misappllca-
tion Of the funds of the bank. He readily
gave bond in So, 900 withJ. Wayne NeR, A.
5. Winslow and George Hafer as sureties.
MIDNIGHT REPORT.
Not being able TO find bail, Hopkins and
Harper have been taken TO the Hamilton
county Jail.
CHICAGO BANKS LOOKED AFTER.
CHICAGO, June 23.--The clearing house
committee held a meeting last even
Ing, and made close examina,-
ton OF the American Exchange National
Banks affairs. The bank presidents are
also said to have met, and after looking
over the banks statement, were entirely sat
sfied that il was solvent and decided TO rem
der IL any assistance that it might need.
The bank paid its clearing house balance
this morning and was able to attend
10 all its business as usual Inc
banks losses by the closing
OF the Cincinnati Fidelity is stated, ON good